Physical Science Forces Vocabulary

A push or pull upon an object.

• Gravity
• Inertia
• Force
• Motion

The force that pulls us, and everything around us, towards the earth.

• Motion
• Gravity
• Unbalanced force
• Friction

The process of moving or being moved.

• Motion
• Acceleration
• Balanced force
• Inertia

The frictional force of air against a moving object. Causes object to slow down.

• Air Resistance
• Gravity
• Force
• Inertia

The energy of something in motion.

• Inertia
• Potential Energy
• Kinetic Energy
• Unbalanced Force

Stored energy; if released this energy will do a lot of work.

• Air Resistance
• Acceleration
• Balanced Force
• Potential Energy

Resistance when one surface or object moves across another.

• Friction
• Inertia
• Gravity
• Force

How fast something moves over a certain distance.

• Acceleration
• Speed
• Velocity
• Kinetic Energy

Rate of motion in a specific direction.

• Velocity
• Acceleration
• Speed
• Kinetic Energy

The amount velocity changes in a certain amount of time.

• Acceleration
• Speed
• Motion
• Kinetic Energy